“The designation demonstrates Oro Valley Hospital’s commitment to highly coordinated trauma care through collaboration with emergency medical providers and transporters,” says Jae L. Dale, chief executive officer. “It is all based on helping to make sure trauma patients get the right level of care as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma System established criteria and standards for designating trauma centers as Level I, II, III or IV, based on a hospital’s resources and capabilities. Designation as a Level I Trauma Center requires the most resources and capabilities, providing total care for every aspect of injury. Designation as a Level IV means the facility is capable of handling the less serious traumatic injuries and has procedures in place to quickly transfer patients requiring a higher level of care to a higher-level facility.

The designation means OVH is part of the state’s trauma network and can coordinate trauma cases with other trauma centers. Emergency medical transport agencies such as Golder Ranch EMS, Southwest Ambulance and other approved agencies may now transport patients requiring Level IV trauma care to OVH.